Reps call for 26% increment in education budget

OrderPaperToday – The House of Representatives on Wednesday resolved that subject to the availability of funds, the Education budget should be increased from seven percent to twenty six percent within the next four years.

This resolution is in line with the recommendation by the United Nations Education and Scientific Organization (UNESCO) for developing countries.

The green chamber also resolved to hold a one week education summit in January next year to enable stakeholders brainstorm on how to reposition education in the country.

Leading the debate, Mr. Oladimeji noted that the strategic importance of education to any nation cannot be over emphasized being the fulcrum of national growth and development.

According to him, tertiary education is the platform for developing human capital for social, economic and technological transformation and advancement of any nation.

He added that right to education is a fundamental human right and a tool of attaining not only academic excellence but also social justice and progress through which citizens achieve not only personal growths, but also develop their civic and political consciousness.

Mr. Oladimeji said the dwindling of quality of education in Nigeria is making her graduates unemployable.

“No fewer than 1.8million graduates in the country move into the labor market every year with the hope of getting jobs that are not available”, he said.

The lawmaker noted further that numerous problems beset Nigeria’s educational system, leading to poor quality and exodus of youth from pursuit of tertiary education.